Have Questions? You're in the right place! This is CBD FAQ

CBD and Cannabinoids

CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It’s a compound found in the cannabis plant that belongs to a group of compounds called Cannabinoids. There are over 100 natural cannabinoids found in Cannabis Sativa (a Latin name for this type of cannabis).

CBD has a variety of health benefits and (derived from Hemp) is legal in most countries.

CBD is non-toxic and does not have any psychotropic (“high”) effects such as those caused by ∆9-THC in marijuana.

CBD isolate or otherwise called “pure CBD” is the CBD molecule separated from the rest of the compounds it normally occurs with. CBD isolate usually appears as a crystalline white powder. CBD isolate can either be synthesized in a lab (synthetic CBD) or made from a CBD containing plants like Hemp.

The cannabis plant consists of a wide variety of chemicals and compounds. Terpenes are essential oils found in plants. There are around 200 terpenes in cannabis. They are what gives cannabis its distinct aroma and flavor. Terpenes have beneficial effects and work synergistically with cannabinoids like CBD and THC – this relationship is called the entourage effect.

The FDA and other agencies have generally recognized terpenes as “safe.”

Several scientific studies have shown that the best CBD oil is a Full-Plant extract or Full Spectrum CBD which contains terpenes and flavonoids naturally occurring in cannabis. All of the extracted plant components work synergistically and can give an enhanced effect.

The Entourage Effect is the synergistic relationship of the naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis plants. The cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in cannabis have shown to work better when they are taken together as opposed to in isolation from each other.

There are many different ways to use CBD. The four main ways are:1) Sublingual – Oils Tinctures and Sprays2) Topical – Lotions and Balms3) Oral – Edibles and Capsules4) Inhalation – Vaporization or Smoking.

The administration will depend on your needs.

The fastest way to feel the effect is inhalation. But the effect is not long-lasting.

Sublingual also enters the body fast and since part of the CBD (after holding it under your tongue for 30 to 60 seconds) is swallowed it “becomes” oral and thus gives you that long-lasting effect as well.

Topical is mostly for your skin as most of the CBD does not penetrate deep into the body.

With oral administration, the effect will be felt after 30 to 60 minutes but it’s long-lasting.

CBD drops and CBD Chocolates are the easiest, most convenient and last the longest.

This way it’s also very easy to measure the exact amount of CBD you are taking.

Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, can refer to the use of cannabis to treat disease or improve symptoms. However, there is no single agreed-upon definition. Mostly, this term is used to define plants that contain high amounts of THC, but it is becoming more complicated to define what it is, due to the fact that we have recently found a lot of cannabis plants with many other molecules.

Medical cannabis or medical marijuana is a word used very frequently in the thousands of medical cannabis shops in the USA where they sell cannabis plants legally under state law. Most of the medical cannabis / medical marijuana is sold for recreational purposes.

The endocannabinoid system is a homeostatic regulator of neuronal activity and almost every other physiological system in the body. It has a regulatory role in pain, inflammation, memory, emotion, sleep and metabolic function.

It includes a vast network of receptors in the brain, central and peripheral nervous system and cannabis-like compounds called endocannabinoids.

It has been likened to a dimmer switch, constantly working to bring balance when there is too much or too little activity in the body.

Plant cannabinoids like CBD and THC interact with the endocannabinoid system, which researchers believe may explain some of the reported physiological effects of the cannabis plant.

Scientists also believe that when this system isn’t working correctly, diseases can occur. This is known as Endocannabinoid Deficiency and could be at the root of many conditions such as migraines, fibromyalgia, IBS and multiple sclerosis.

Recent research has demonstrated that active compounds from other plant species such as carrot (Daucus carota), kava (Piper methyscum), New Zealand liverwort (Radula marginata), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) contain compounds which also interact with the endocannabinoid system in our body.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the cannabinoid found most in abundance in the cannabis plant. It has a psychoactive effect, hence plant varieties that have been bred for recreational use are particularly high in THC.

That is not to say that THC doesn’t have any therapeutic use. It has been found to be effective for reducing nausea and vomiting experienced by patients during chemotherapy, can slow down the progression of glaucoma and help reduce nerve pain.

Research has shown that Hemp contains over 400 different molecules. Recent research shows there is a group of molecules that cannabis produces called cannabinoids, which are mostly responsible for its effects. There are over 120 cannabinoids including CBD, THC, CBG, CBC, and CBN.

A famous cannabinoid is THC, which is psychoactive and responsible for the high. CBD products however usually contain only traces amounts of THC, not enough to get you high.

All are actually cannabis plants. However, hemp or industrial hemp is a term commonly used for cannabis strains that contain very low levels of THC – to be precise below 0.3% THC.

Marijuana, in general, is a word used for plants that contain high amounts of THC.

Our grandfathers did not know anything about THC (that it is psychoactive) and were just growing cannabis and calling it hemp. It’s only in modern times that the definition of hemp means low levels of THC.

CBD can be taken either way. If you want to maximize absorption, or if you have a sensitive stomach, it is best to take CBD with meals or within an hour of eating. A few human studies have found increased absorption from the gastrointestinal tract when it is taken with food, especially fatty foods. Studies have also shown CBD taken orally when combined with lipids to increased systemic availability by almost threefold!

CBD has been shown to lessen anxiety in humans, and it does so through actions on a variety of brain receptors but primarily those for serotonin. One study shows CBD has a rapid-onset antidepressant effect on the brain by promoting changes in synaptic plasticity and the release of growth factors such as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). This study was on mice, but CBD is thought to have similar effects on the human brain which may contribute to its mood-boosting effects, along with actions at the serotonin receptors.

If you want to extract CBD your self you can also use safer solvents, such as ethanol, or prevent exposure to organic solvents entirely by using olive oil to extract cannabis oil, according to Dr. Arno Hazekamp director of phytochemical research at Bedrocan BV, which supplies cannabis, including a CBD-rich strain, for the Dutch Health Ministry’s medical marijuana program.

By the same methods, you would use to make any kind of cannabis-infused edible.

To make CBD-rich brownies or other CBD-rich edibles, you must first make an extract from a CBD-rich strain and infuse it into olive oil, coconut oil or butter. These infused oils or butters are the most common ways to cook with cannabis.

You’ll need to combine the CBD-rich plant material with the oil or butter and expose to low heat over a long period of time. This will help to avoid breakdown and vaporization of the CBD and other cannabinoids. After straining out the plant material, you can put CBD-rich cannabutter or canna-oil into your favorite recipes.

It’s important to remember that while CBD is safe for you to use, it can potentially interfere with other medications. This is because of how CBD is metabolized by your body and the possibility that it can alter how your body normally metabolizes your other medication.

If your medication isn’t metabolized properly, the medication might not work. Instead, it may stay in your system longer than desired, or in a form that your body doesn’t like, leading to negative side effects and potential complications. For example, taking CBD with blood thinners can maybe result in them not breaking down in your system. However, there’s a chance that CBD can make your medication more effective – so much so that you might even be able to reduce your regular medication dosage.

The trick is to ask your doctor or medical professional if you can take grapefruit with your medication. Grapefruits can also mess with the metabolism of a variety of medications, so if your doctor says no to grapefruit then you’ll have to be careful about mixing CBD with your medication. Of course, we always recommend discussing CBD with your doctor anyway – especially if you’re already taking medication. To find out more, read our resource on the potential effects of CBD.

CBD has been shown to be safe to use in high doses. CBD will not cause a fatal overdose. However, it is possible to take too much CBD. A consequence of taking too much CBD is the increased chance of negative side effects like lethargy or drowsiness.

CBD Dosage and Administration

This depends on a few factors:1) Your age2) Your weight3) Have you ever used cannabis in any form before4) What is the strength of the CBD product you are about to take5) Is your CBD product a so-called Full Spectrum CBD product (meaning it has all the cannabinoids including traces amounts of THC) or is it made with a so-called CBD isolate (meaning it only contains CBD and no other cannabinoids)6) The health condition you want to treat

The best way to figure that out is to follow the Video instructions that I’ve made:

1) Start taking a small dosage before sleep. We are talking just 3 drops if it’s a 4% CBD oil

If it’s a concentrated CBD extract also known as paste, go with only a half of a rice grain before sleep. Do this for the next 3-5 days.

2) Next, slowly start to increase the dosage by small amounts every 2-3 days, still taking it just before sleep.

3) After about 10 days start taking the same dosage that you started with on day 1 before sleep, now take that dosage in the morning.

4) Again after about 3 days start increasing the morning dosage as well as the evening dose.

5) After another 10 days or so, start taking that initial dosage during the day as well, at about launch time.

6) Again after about 3 days start increasing the launch dosage, along with slowly increasing morning and evening dose.

To recap:

You start taking 3 drops in the evening, before sleep and slowly increase.

After 7 days you add a small morning dose and slowly increase everything

Again after 7 days, you add a launch dose and again slowly increase everything.

This dosage regime goes towards what is called micro-dosing and within about three weeks you will come to a micro-dosing regime that will keep the CBD levels in your body at an almost constant level. So the idea of micro-dosing is just that – keep the CBD levels in your body at a constant level.

Whatever CBD product, whatever the strength – with just a little bit of time this process will help you find the perfect dosage that works for you. Listen closely to your body.

You should stop increasing the dosage at the point where you find it working for you.

CBD has been shown to be safe to use in high doses. CBD will not cause a fatal overdose. However, it is possible to take too much CBD. A consequence of taking too much CBD is the increased chance of negative side effects like lethargy or drowsiness.

CBD Oil or CBD tinctures usually comes with a dropper and are taken by placing the dose under the tongue where some of it can be absorbed sublingually – through the mucous membrane in the mouth. The rest is swallowed after about 30 seconds and is absorbed through our digestive system.

Do you ever wonder what all this excitement about yoga is? Your best friend loves it, your hair-dresser can’t stop talking about it…even your middle-aged aunt is obsessed with it! Well, they have their reasons! Basic Facts about The Life-Changing Powers of Yoga Here are a few yoga basics that will introduce you to this…

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These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always check with your physician before starting a supplement program. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural constituent of hemp oil. Full Disclaimer.